Hunter Gatherer

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

-Sarah discussed whether artificial sweeteners are a better substitute than sugar in foods. I learned aspartame is the worse artificial sweetener, and I now look for it on food nutrition facts. She had an enormous amount of side effects that I think were used as a scare tactic. I never want to use artificial sweeteners again. I just wonder why the FDA allows sweeteners if they can be so harmful.

Ryan-

-Ryan discussed the effects recombinant bovine growth hormone, used on cows, have on humans. The growth hormones are found in 2/3 of slaughtered cows. The FDA has approved this hormones, but I wonder what the side effects on humans truly are. As a milk and beef lover I found this information to be very important.

Abry-

-While abry's discussion on allergies was a little confusing, it seems to be very pertinent for the season. It was interesting to learn the history of allergies and how it effects the body. The image he used was very helpful in explaining the information. I look forward to more detail from London's finest.

Many think the only thing tryptophan does is make people sleepy after they eat turkey. However, Tryptophan has many more uses. For example, Tryptophan can help people suffering from endogenous (unipolar) depression. Studies have also shown that tryptophan can help cure insomnia. Tryptophan affects this diseases because it has a direct affect on the central nervous system. Tryptophan is a predecessor to serotonin, which regulates sleep and mood. This aspect allows the tryptophan to help those suffering from insomnia and depression. However, some people need more than just the daily dose of tryptophan received from food, a tryptophan supplement is necessary . It is important to note though, that tryptophan can be toxic in high doses. Tryptophan can also help alleviate migraine headaches, control weight by reducing appetite and enhancing the distribution of growth hormones. Tryptophan can do it all! Who knew...

Tryptophan is known as an "essential" amino acid. This means people must receive a sufficient amount of tryptophan to satisfy the body's needs. It is best to take tryptophan along with a carbohydrate such as fruit juice. The insulin in the fruit juice helps the absorption of tryptophan into the nervous system. However, other amino acids can disrupt the absorption of tryptophan into the nervous system. For this reason, tryptophan should be taken on an empty stomach with a carbohydrate for optimal therapeutic results.

As I said earlier, tryptophan is commonly known for just making people sleep after eating turkey. However, using chemistry we've learned that tryptophan has many other uses. Chemist have been able to recognize the various uses of tryptophan by identifying the its chemical make-up. For instance, the fact that tryptophan is a predecessor to serotonin enables chemist to understand the primary affect of this amino acid. Also, the chemistry allows us to know when to take tryptophan and how to optimize its abilities. Chemistry is essential in identifying the uses of various amino acids by observing their chemical structure and analyzing how this structure affects different areas of nervous system. Tryptophan + Chemistry= Possibilities

Thursday, December 6, 2007

As I saw first hand with one of my sites, it is important to browse the entire site when looking for new information. There was a section of one of my sites that contained good information, however the site itself was a little racy. It is also important to make sure the site and information itself is valid. Some sites may have the information your looking for, but the source may not be reliable. It's imperative that you thoroughly check the source. Usually the most reliable sources are produced by a university, a government agency or an organization. I've learned from now on to make sure I check the source and information I find on the internet.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

I've decided amino acids is a great topic to research. There is an abundance of information concerning amino acids. It is amazing how many different amino acids there are in the human body. Each have a specific use, and some are created by the body and some obtained through food(essential amino acid). Amino Acids are particularly important for trying to gain muscle mass. A common amino acid that most people are aware of is tryptophan. Tryptophan affects the bodies' Serotonin, which regulates sleep patterns. Tryptophan is commonly found in turkey, and causes people to feel tired. There is so much more information about amino acids, and their many uses.